Indonesia proposes joint sea border patrols with PNG

Indonesia is proposing joint sea patrols along the border with Papua New Guinea to prevent further incidences of illegal fishing.

42 Indonesians have reportedly been arrested for illegal fishing in the past six months off PNG's Sandaun and Western provinces.

One Indonesian was shot dead by a PNG patrol in an incident now under high-level investigation in PNG.

A spokesperson for the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, Pratito Soeharyo, says he will arrange a meeting between Indonesian and PNG government officials to discuss the matter.

He says because it is the fishing season now, some Indonesians may have crossed the border unintentionally while chasing fish.

"So I propose to both governments, Indonesia and PNG, to have some kind of co-operation in border patrol - not only in the sea border but on the land border as well, to have a joint patrol, with police, to avoid this kind of illegal crossing of the border by fishermen, illegally."